Methods for separating cells from a sample (e.g., separating fetal red blood cells from maternal blood) include introducing a sample including cells into one or more microfluidic channels. In one embodiment, the device includes at least two processing steps. For example, a mixture of cells is introduced into a microfluidic channel that selectively allows the passage of a desired type of cell, and the population of cells enriched in the desired type is then introduced into a second microfluidic channel that allows the passage of the desired cell to produce a population of cells further enriched in the desired type. The selection of cells is based on a property of the cells in the mixture, for example, size, shape, deformability, surface characteristics (e.g., cell surface receptors or antigens and membrane permeability), or intracellular properties (e.g., expression of a particular enzyme).

A telescoping electric pipette controller has a handle, a head end portion, an outer shell and a manual retainer. One end of the head end portion is arranged in an end portion of the handle in a penetrating manner, the outer shell is sheathed over an outer surface of the end portion of the handle, and one end portion of the manual retainer is rotatably connected to the outer shell. By means of opening or fastening the manual retainer, one end portion of the manual retainer is released outwards or pressed inwards against the head end portion, allowing extension and retraction of the head end portion relative to the handle. The extension and retraction, as well as the locking of part of a grip structure, are controlled by means of a switch, allowing the grip to change the length within a specific range.

A cell picking device for sucking cells from a liquid sample in a sample container includes a sucking member to which a pipette tip is attachable, a driver that moves the sucking member and performs suction through the sucking member and the pipette tip, a work mode switcher that switches a work mode of the driver between a first mode and a second mode, and a controller that controls the driver.

Automated analyzer (2000) comprising a housing (2010, 3010), a robotic arm comprising an end effector (2360), the end effector (2360) comprising a body (2320) rotatably connected to an articulating arm and first (2363a) and second fingers (2363b) coupled to the body (2362) and being moveable relative to each other in a first direction, each of the fingers (2363a, b) having an engagement feature (2361) projecting inwardly from each of the first and second fingers (2363a, b) and toward the other of the first and second fingers (2363a, b). The automated analyzer (2000) further comprises a shuttle platform (2030) for receiving a shuttle (2030) carrying sample containers (03), the containers carrying sample (03) to be evaluated by the analyzer (2000) and the shuttle platform (2030) comprising a jaw assembly that engages the bottom portion of the sample containers when the jaw assembly is in the closed position.

A carrier plate, which is used within an electrophoresis process, and to a holding device tailored to the carrier plate, the carrier plate having a region with a magnetic property and a positioning device. The magnetic property is designed to fix the carrier plate in the laboratory device. The positioning device is designed to guarantee a position of the carrier plate in the laboratory device.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay method and an immunoassay device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provided is an immunoassay device including: a stage capable of accommodating a plurality of cartridges having a plurality of wells; a solution transfer unit including a plurality of tips, which are movable relative to the stage and disposed to correspond to a position of the cartridge so as to suction a solution stored in each of the wells or discharge the suctioned solution from the well; and a control unit controlling the stage and the solution transfer unit to be relatively movable and controlling suction or discharge of a content into/from the plurality of tips.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay device and an immunoassay method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an immunoassay device includes a measurement unit provided with a detection unit disposed at one side of a stage accommodating cartridges having a plurality of wells to move in a direction, in which the plurality of cartridges are arranged, and capable of measuring a state within the well disposed at the outermost side, and including a shielding plate that moves to cover an opened upper portion of the well disposed at the outermost side to block introduction of light into the well.

A cell picking device that sucks cells from a liquid sample in a sample container and accommodates the sucked cells in any of a plurality of wells of an accommodating plate, includes a suction discharger that sucks cells in the sample container and discharges the sucked cells into any of the plurality of wells, the receiver that receives selection of a well in which cells are to be accommodated out of the plurality of wells of the accommodating plate as a selection well, a driver that adjusts a relative positional relationship between the suction discharger and the plurality of wells of the accommodating plate, and a work controller that controls the driver such that the suction discharger discharges cells into the received selection well out of the plurality of wells of the accommodating plate.

The present invention defines a positioning assembly including a base part (110) and a holder part (120) for holding a device, whereby the assembly further includes a motor (160) for driving a displacement mechanism (150) mounted to the base part. The base part and the holder part are arranged parallel to each other and are connected via a displaceable slide link (140), which is configured to slide on a first guide rail (111) provided on the base part and on a second guide rail (122) provided on the holder part, whereby each guide rail extends in longitudinal direction (z). The slide link (140) is coupled to the displacement mechanism (150), which causes displacement of the slide link relative to the base part in longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the holder part (120) is moveably coupled to the base part (110) via a coupling arrangement which has a first element (115) provided on the base part, a second element (125) provided on the holder part and a third element provided on the slide link (140). The first, second and third elements of the coupling arrangement are configured to engage with each other such that linear displacement of the slide link (140) relative to the base part (110) in one direction causes linear displacement of the holder part (120) relative to the slide link in the same linear direction.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provided is an immunoassay device including: a control unit controlling relative movement of a stage, which accommodates a cartridge having a plurality of wells, and a solution transfer unit including a tip and the suction and discharge of a solution into/from the tip, wherein the solution transfer unit includes: a driving part providing a pressure for suctioning and discharging the solution into/from the tip; and a magnetic force applying part installed at one side of the tip to apply magnetic force toward the tip, wherein the control unit controls the driving part so that a magnitude of the magnetic force applied to the tip by the magnetic force applying part is adjusted to hold magnetic particles inside the tip after the solution containing the magnetic particles is suctioned into the tip.